A Diagnosis of Timing and Outlook

Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, a practicing otolaryngologist from Flint, Michigan, is poised to assume teh presidency of the American Medical Association (AMA) in June. Though, his journey to this leadership role took an unexpected turn when he received a cancer diagnosis, leading to treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dr. Mukkamala views the timing of these events as notably notable, stating, If this is a higher power that planned this, I can’t see it being planned any better.

From Physician to Patient: An “amazing Opportunity”

Dr. Mukkamala emphasizes the profound impact of experiencing healthcare from the patient’s perspective. I would say that, being a physician, I understood 90% of what it was like to be a patient, he noted. But then to all of a sudden become a patient … was an amazing opportunity. This experience has provided him with invaluable insights as he prepares to lead the nation’s largest lobbying and advocacy group for physicians.

The Discovery and Initial Reaction

The health scare began in November 2024 during an AMA meeting in Florida, where Dr. Mukkamala experienced expressive aphasia. Everyone thought I had a stroke, Dr. Mukkamala recounted.They sent me for an MRI scan as soon as I got home, and of course the stroke wasn’t (the) issue. The MRI revealed a tumor on the left side of his brain,which he promptly recognized. He shared the scans with his father, a retired radiologist, who quickly confirmed the diagnosis.

Initially, Dr. Mukkamala approached the news with a detached, logical mindset, describing it as going into Spock mode, referencing the Star Trek character. He explained that his perspective was partly influenced by his upbringing, stating that after death, one’s soul will return in a different form, and so one shouldn’t be attached to their body.

Family-Driven decisions and Mayo Clinic

While he maintained a stoic exterior, Dr. Mukkamala acknowledged the emotional impact on his family, particularly his parents, children, and his wife, Dr. Nita Kulkarni, with whom he shares a practice. His family played a crucial role in deciding where he would receive treatment. After seeking multiple opinions, the family unanimously chose Mayo Clinic.

I just said, ‘Guys, whatever happens, I’ll be asleep. So you guys decide.Which of these places that we’ve interviewed with would you recommend?’… And it was unanimous that it was going to be the Mayo Clinic.
dr. Bobby mukkamala

On dec 13, 2024, Dr. Mukkamala underwent surgery to remove the tumor. the procedure was performed while he was awake to ensure the surgical team could monitor and avoid damaging the language processing region of his brain.

A Favorable Prognosis and Fortuitous Timing

Following the accomplished surgery, Dr.Mukkamala learned that his tumor was a grade II astrocytoma, a slower-growing type of cancer. He noted that the life expectancy can be more than 10 years, especially with newly approved treatments. he emphasized the fortunate timing of the FDA approval of a medicine specific to his type of tumor, which occurred shortly before he needed it.

The recent approval by the FDA of a particular medicine specific to my type of tumor. It was approved in August and I needed it in December — and this is after a decade of planning, of research — either that’s just an astonishing coincidence or something more.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala

Returning to Mayo Clinic: patient and President-Elect

In early april,Dr. Mukkamala returned to Mayo Clinic, both as a patient and as the AMA’s president-elect. He engaged with medical students and led grand rounds with otolaryngology and radiation oncology residents.he also expressed his gratitude for the care he received during his surgery.

But then also (I gave) a whole lot of thanks and appreciation for having been here in December, getting surgery for my own brain cancer. I’m glad that I survived and these guys kept me alive, and now I can come and finish the job of giving them the American Medical Association president-elect update.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala

Advocacy and the Future of Healthcare

As he prepares to lead the AMA,Dr.Mukkamala believes his experience as a cancer patient has strengthened his resolve to advocate for physicians and their patients.Going through a life-saving operation, navigating a complicated health care system, looking at my co-pays, looking at my deductibles, managing the finances of that, he explained, brought me that much closer to a complete understanding of health care.

Dr. Mukkamala plans to continue advocating for research funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies. He highlighted the importance of research funding, noting that the drug he was prescribed for his cancer was Discovered at duke University with NIH funding.

He also addressed recent cuts in public health and research funding, emphasizing the AMA’s commitment to ensuring the continued advancement of the nation’s health through research.

How can we, on one hand, say that we promote the science of medicine and then not comment when that science is threatened by a decrease in funding? The AMA has been very vocal and very passionate about making sure that the continued improvement of the health of our country happens because of research.
Dr.Bobby mukkamala

The Personal and the Political

Dr. Mukkamala connects his personal experience with the broader issue of research funding, stating, In one sense, I’m talking about it from the 10,000-foot level, saying the NIH funding for research should be continued by the government. Then, as a patient that is literally alive because of that funding, I can say it should be continued.